Diaper cleaning device



June 21, 1949. BERRY 2,473,852

, DIAPER CLEANING DEVQICE Filed June 11, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mrzav TOR. Gene 4. Berry BY June 21, 1949.

Filed June 11, 1948 G. L. BERRY DI APER CLEANING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I JNVENTOR. 9 Gene 4.567?) ATTORIYEYS Patented June 21, 1949 DIAPER CLEANING DEVICE Genev L. Berry, Halley, Idaho, assignor of onefourth to Victor Anderson, Hailey, Idaho Application June 11, 1948, Serial No. 32,376

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to diaper cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a device for processing babies diapers for future laundering.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for pre-cleaning soiled diapers whereby the task of cleaning the diapers is performed quickly, pleasantly and with dry hands during the entire process.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved diaper cleaning apparatus which may be employed on? a conventional toilet bowl and which enables soiled baby diapers to be rapidly and efficiently pre-cleaned for future laundering in a sanitary and expeditious manner and Without requiring the operator to immerse his hands in the water of the bowl.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a diaper cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the movable rollers thereof being shown in their uppermost positions.

Figure 2 is 'a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure l, with the movable rollers in their lowermost positions.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view, partly broken away, of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 shown positioned on a toilet bowl.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 ofFigure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of the means for locking the roller positioning bar of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a desired position of adjustment.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 1-7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating the relative positions of the parts of the apparatus of Figure 1 when a soiled diaper is placed therein at the beginning of the cleaning procedure.

Figure 9 is a schematic View similar to Figure 8 showing the relative positions of parts of the apparatus shown in Figure 8 during the subsequent portion of the cleaning procedure.

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line lD -Ill of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates a rectangular base frame comprising the longitudinal side arms I2 and I3 and the transverse end arms I4 and I5. Rigidly secured to the end arm ll are the rearwardly projecting F-brackets IS, IS and adJustably secured to the end arm 15 are similar forwardly projecting brackets l1, IT. The forwardly projecting F-brackets I1, I! are each threadedly engaged by a left-hand threaded portion of an adjusting screw I8, said screw having a right-hand threaded portion threaded through end arm [5. Each screw l8 has a knurled head l9 projecting inside the base frame II. By rotating heads I9 the brackets l1, I! may be advanced or retracted. As shown in Figure 4, the rear brackets l6, H; are engageable with the rear rim portion of a conventional toilet bowl 20 whereas the forward brackets l1, If! are engageable with the forward rim portion of the toilet bowl to thereby support the frame H inthe upper portion of the bowl.

Secured to the respective side arms l2 and [3 are inverted V-shaped members 2| and 22 and the arms of said members are formed with elongated slots 23. Secured to the intermediate portions of the side arms l2 and I3 and secured to the apex portions of the members 2| and 22 inwardly thereof are the vertical post members 24 and 25 extending upwardly for a substantial distance above said apex portions. The top portions of the post members 24 and 25 are formed with the respective opposed inwardly facing notches 26 and 21, and the lower portions of said post members are formed with the' respective opposed pairs of inwardly facing notches 28, 29 and 30, 3|. Designated at 32 is a cross bar carrying at its ends the yoke elements 33 and 34 respectively slidably engaging the post members 24 and 25. Pivotally secured to the end portions of cross bar 32 are dogs 35 and 36 engageable in the notchesof the post members. Each dog is connected by a, link bar 51 to a lever 58 pivoted to the cross bar 32, said levers 58 being biased upwardly by springs 59 acting between the levers and the cross bar to urge the dogs 35, 36 toward locking positions. Pivotally connected to one end portion of cross bar 32 are depending arms 31 and 38 connected by a coil spring 38, and pivotally connected to the other end portion are depending arms 39 and 40 also connected by a spring 38'. One of the springs 38' is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Journalled in the ends of arms 38 and 39 is the shaft of a roller ll, the ends of the shaft passing slidably through the slots 23 of the left arms of members 2| and 22, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. Journalled in the ends of arms 31 and 40 is the shaft of a roller 42, the ends of said latter shaft passing slidably through the slots 23 of the right arms of members 2| and 22.

Rigidly secured in the frame II are spaced transverse cylindrical brushes 43, 44 and 45, the brush 44 being substantially centered in the frame and the brushes 43 and 45 being located inwardly of the positions which rollers 4| and 42 assume when cross bar 32 has been lowered to a position wherein dogs 35 and 36 engage in the notches 28 and 29. Secured in the frame H is a U-shaped sprinkler having respective arms 46 and 41 extending respectively between the brushes 43 and 44 and the brushes 44 and 45, as shown in Figure 2. The sprinkler may be connected to a suitable water supply by a flexible hose 48 provided therewith.

Mounted transversely in the frame ll adjacent end arm I4 is a wringer roller 49, the shaft ends of said roller being received in respective Threadedthrough the rear wall of each housing 50 is an adjusting screw to the inner end of which is secured a spring 52 which bears on a shaft end of roller 49, biasing the roller forwardly. When cross bar 32 has been lowered to a position wherein dogs and 36 engage in the respective lowermost notches 39 and 3i, roller 42 engages the wringer roller 49, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

At the beginning of the diaper cleaning operation cross bar 32 is locked in its upper position, as shown in Figure 3. The diaper is looped around the rollers 4i and 42, soiled side downward, the ends of the diaper being held at 53, as shown in Figure 8. The dog release levers 58 are then rotated downwardly to release the cross bar holding d0gs35, 36 and the cross bar 32 is moved downwardly. to a position wherein the dogs 35 and 36 engage in the notches 28 and 29. The rollers 4| and 42 are moved outwardly and downwardly by the slots 23 and assume the positions shown in Figure 9, spreading the diaper and holding the diaper against the brushes 43, 44 and 45. Water is admitted to the sprinkler arms 46 and 41 and the ends of the diaper are held by the operator and moved in unison from side to side,

whereby the soiled surface of the diaper is rubbed over the bristles of the brushes 43, 44 and and sprayed simultaneously by the sprinkler arms 46 and 41. This loosens all material adhering to the diaper and washe's it into the toilet bowl. After a sufficient period of this action, the release levers 58 are again rotated downwardly and cross bar 32 is lowered to a position wherein clogs 35 and 36 engage in the lowermost notches 39 and 3|. The diaper is thus clamped between rollers 42 and 49. The right end of the diaper as viewed in Figure 9 is then pulled upwardly, .and as the diaper is pulled between the roller 42 and the wringer roller 49, excess moisture is squeezed out of said diaper. The diaper is now ready for subsequent laundering.

As shown inFigure 10, the F-brackets l6 and I1 are preferably provided with a suitable protective sheathing 54 vof rubber or the like to protect the rim of the toilet bowl against scratching.

While a specific embodiment of a pre-cleaning apparatus-for soiled baby diapers has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be 4 understood that various modifications within the spirit. of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A diaper cleaning device comprising a frame, I

a plurality of spaced brush members mounted transversely in said frame, a plurality of sprinklers transversely mounted in said frame. a. pair of vertical post members secured to said frame in transversely opposing relation, a transverse bar member slidably engaged at its ends with said post members, a pair of arms pivoted to each end portion of said bar member, transverse rollers journ'alled in respective transversely opposed arms, and downwardly diverging track means secured to the sides of said frame, said rollers being slidably engaged with said track means for downward divergent movement responsive to downward movement of said bar member.

2. A diaper cleaning device comprising a generally rectangular frame, a plurality of spaced brush members mounted transversely in said frame, a plurality of sprinklers transversely mounted in said frame, a pair of vertical post members secured to the mid-portions of the longitudinal sides of the frame, a transverse bar member slidably engaged at its ends with said post members, a pair of arms pivoted to each end portion of said bar member, transverse rollers journalled in respective transversely opposed arms, downwardly diverging track means secured. to the sides of said frame, the shafts of said rollers being slidably engaged in said track means for downward divergent movement responsive .to

downward movement of said bar member, and

means for releasably locking said bar member in selected positions with respect to said post members.

3. A diaper cleaning device comprising a generally rectangular frame, a plurality of spaced brush members mounted transversely in said frame, a plurality of sprinklers transversely mounted in said frame, a pair of vertical post members secured to the mid-portions of the iongitudinal sides of the frame, a transverse bar member slidably engaged at its ends with said post members, a pair of arms pivoted to each end portion of said bar member, transverse rollers journalled in respective transversely opposed arms, downwardly divergent angled brackets secured at their apices to the post members and at their lower ends to the. respective longitudinal sides of the frame, the branches of said brackets being formed with elongated slots and the shaft ends of said rollers being slidably engaged in said slots to provide downwardly divergent movement I 'of the rollers responsive to downward movement lower ends of one setof transversely opposed slots.

GENE L. BERRY.

No references cited. 

